zoomf.com

zoomf.com is a UK based property search engine for residential homes to buy or rent. Launched in 2006, it was acquired by Trinity Mirror plc in November 2008.

Search results link through to the source – typically to listings on agents’ own websites. Its unique selling point is the search itself, which is more specified and allows users to specify price, style, location, and other special features.

Ownership | Market Position | Key Measurements | Market Coverage | Advertising Model | Financials | Site Sections | Technology | Key Management | History | Recent Press | Information Sources

Ownership

zoomf.com was owned by its founders, parent company, Arclight Media Technology until it was bought by Trinity Mirror in November 2008. Arclight Media Technology has since been put into administration.

Trinity Mirror plc, is one of the UK’s largest newspaper publishers, with a portfolio of more than 350 media brands that includes 5 national and 150 regional newspapers. zoomf.com will join their stable of over 200 websites. Trinity Mirror plc also own smartnewhomes.com, email4property.co.uk and Fish4Homes.

Market Position

As a property search engine, zoomf.com faces competition in the UK from other similar start ups like globrix.com and dothomes.co.uk. It is outside the top 10 UK players in terms of unique visitors, according to ComScore figures.

Key Measurements
(December 2008)

Unknown. It is outside the top 10 UK players in terms of unique visitors, according to rencent ComScore figures (Sept 2008).

Market Coverage

UK wide.

Advertising Model

Free-to use, revenue is raised by third party advertising and banner advertising alongside enhanced agent products like Zoomf Boost, which offers agents a combination of cost per click (cpc), cost per impression (cpm), and cost per email (cpe).

Financials

Unknown.

Site Sections



The key sections of the website are:

• property search

Technology

zoomf.com use what they call the “Zoomfbot”, their custom built search engine technology developed to crawl the internet. It also uses Google maps.

Key Management

The key management are:

• Mike Carter – founder and head of product and commercial
• Dave Romano-Critchley – founder and head of technology

History

Arclight Media Technology Limited was founded in September 2005 by Rod Dowler, Mike Carter, and Dave Romano-Critchley, the creators of zoomf.com. It was backed by private investors, including the founders, and zoomf.com operated under it.

zoomf.com has spent a short but illustrious time on the property radar. As the zoomf.com team write on their website: “Zoomf was launched in 2006 in London, by an entrepreneurial group of internet technologists who thought that Search could transform the experience of hunting for the right home in the UK, and beyond”.

Arclight Media Technology raised £0.5 million in its second round of funding from Howzat Media in February 2007.

In November 2008 zoomf.com was sold to Trinity Mirror plc, and Arclight Media Technology was put into administration.

The new owner of zoomf.com, Trinity Mirror plc, is one of the UK’s largest newspaper publishers, with a portfolio of more than 350 media brands that includes 5 national and 150 regional newspapers. zoomf.com will join their stable of over 200 websites, and Carter, Romano-Critchley and a lead developer have joined Trinity Mirror as part of the Zoomf deal.

Recent Press

News is posted on the zoomf.com blog.

Information Sources

Site Review

1. zoomf.com Parent Company Sinks

   Last week UK property search engine zoomf.com was bought by Trinity Mirror. This week reports are that its parent company, Arclight Media Technology, has been put into administration. ...

2. Trinity Mirror buys Zoomf.com

   Trinity Mirror, which already owns property websites such as smartnewhomes.com, email4property.co.uk and Fish4Homes, has acquired UK property search engine zoomf.com. ...

3. zoomf.com Releases Version Six

   UK property search engine zoomf.com has upgraded to its sixth version and now offers new features for paid listings. According to the zoomf.com blog, the new paid listings have agent branding, links to agent contact details and a Google Maps view, a photo viewer, and distinguishing features of the property highlighted in search results....

4. Homes Overseas Sold by Trinity Mirror

   Homes Overseas magazine has been sold back to Globespan Media by the UK's Trinity Mirror Group. ...

5. New Video Ads at homesoverseas.co.uk

   Property portal and overseas property news website homesoverseas.co.uk has launched a new video advertising service, dubbed “HO TV”....